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MAN98 (Plot 1)

Site: MAN98 (Plot 1)Land Unit: Warrakbook Basalts
Aust. Soil Class.:

Soil pit Man98 1-4 landscapeGeneral Land Unit Description:
This land unit consists of gently undulating basalt plains in the Macarthur area. In some drainage lines, the basalt has been dissected sufficiently to expose the underlying sediments. The soils on the basalt plains are commonly Brown Kurosols or Chormosols, intermixed with Sodosols, particularly on the lower slopes and drainage depressions.

Two year old Eucalyptus globulus plantation on ex-agricultural land
Site Description:
Geology: Landform pattern:
Position in landscape: Internal drainage:

Soil Profile Morphology

A10-15 cmDark brown (10YR3/3) fine
sandy clay loam; weak granular structure (10-20 mm)
parting to weak granular structure (2-5 mm); very
weak consistence when moderately moist; many
medium roots; clear and smooth transition to:
A215-35 cmBrown (10YR5/3) fine sandy
clay loam; weak polyhedral structure (20-50 mm)
parting to weak granular structure (5-10 mm); very
weak consistence when moist; common very fine
macropores; areal porosity 0.5%; many medium roots;
clear and smooth transition to:
Subsoil
B135-45 cmBrown (10YR5/3) with
common medium faint light yellowish brown
(10YR6/4) mottles, light clay; weak polyhedral
structure (10-20 mm) parting to weak granular structure (5-10 mm); weak consistence when moist;
common medium ferruginous nodules; few very fine macropores; areal porosity 0.05%; common
fine roots; clear and smooth transition to:
B2145-90 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/4) with few medium distinct red (2.5YR4/8) light
medium clay; moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (5-
10 mm); weak consistence when moist; few coarse ferruginous nodules; common very fine
macropores; areal porosity 0.05%; few very fine roots; gradual and smooth transition to:
B2290-140 cmLight brownish grey (10YR6/2) with few medium distinct yellowish brown
(10YR5/4) and red (2.5YR4/6) mottles, medium clay; strong lenticular structure (20-50 mm) parting
to strong polyhedral structure (10-20 mm); weak consistence when moist; few coarse ferruginous
nodules; common very fine macropores; areal porosity 0.1%; few very fine roots.
140-340 cmRoots observed to 270 cm, heavy grey clay, moderately strong lenticular
structure.
340-420 cmThe C Horizon, extremely coarse weathered basalt (up to 1000 mm), live roots
many medium roots observed. Basaltic rocks (up to 150 mm) observed. The abundance of rocks in
increasing with depth with virtually all rock at 420 cm, resulting in an impeding layer to root
growth.

Notes: It appears that roots can penetrate the B horizon.

Sampled by: Ian Sargeant, Paul Feikema, Martin Clark and Kiet Quach (October, 2000).

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